"We will not accept anything else but a separate Dimaraji state comprising the Dimasa-dominated areas of Assam and Nagaland," DHD (Nunisa) chairman Dilip Nunisa told TOI on Friday.
In 2009, the group had submitted its charter of demands to the Centre and continues to put pressure on the government to realize its objective. The DHD(N) wants amalgamation of the Dimasa-inhabited areas of Karbi Anglong, North Cachar Hills, Cachar and Nagaon districts in Assam and the Dhansiri tract of Nagaland for the creation of Dimaraji as a "full-fledged state".
The statehood demand marks a departure from the group's earlier demand of an autonomous state in accordance with the Section 244(A) of the Constitution "for safeguarding and ensuring development of Dimasa areas".
Replying to a query on the recent change in nomenclature of NC Hills, Nunisa said: "We are not demanding change in the nomenclature of NC Hills. All we want is a separate Dimaraji state. The Centre is trying to dive the Dimasas and rule them. New Delhi cannot fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the Dimasas by only changing the name of NC Hills."
In April 2010, the Assam government had renamed the North Cachar Hills as Dima Haso with its headquarters in Haflong. Nunisa added, "Dimapur should also be a part of Dimaraji. Dimapur belongs to the Dimasas and nobody can deny it. It is our historical and constitutional right." He, however, added that Dimaraji could be achieved through talks with the government.
In October 2009, the DHD leaders had met Central leaders with their separate statehood demand and warned New Delhi of dire consequences if it was not met. Besides statehood, DHD's other demands are inner-line permit system for non-tribals visiting the proposed Dimaraji state, ear-marking of a Lok Sabha and a Rajya Sabha seat for the tribal residents of Dimaraji, safeguarding the historical monuments of the Dimasa kingdom, setting up of a central university and the establishment of an airport at Hakela Hading, 16km from Haflong, the district headquarters of North Cachar Hills.
On the other hand, a similar movement is getting stronger in the Bodo heartland of Assam. And this demand is for Bodoland, a separate state for the Bodos.
Last year, various Bodo organizations met in Kokrajhar and unveiled a map of the proposed Bodoland which, it wants, should comprise almost all areas along the northern banks of the Brahmaputra.
"Initially there were some differences among various Bodo organizations about the demand for a separate state. But after the Bodo National Convention in November, the (Bodo) groups formed the Bodo National Conference for a unified approach to the Bodo causes. This rejuvenated the demand for a separate Bodoland," NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatary. At present, he is at Doyapur to attend the Bihu festival of the Dimasas.
When pointed out that the NDFB (Progressive), which is currently in talks with the Centre and enjoys autonomy, Basumatary said: "This status does not give political freedom, but only redresses social and development issues."